Cosmo cover: FilAm rapper Saweetie, aka 'Ate Icy' is here to dominate

Filipino American rapper Saweetie, known by her Filipino fans as "Ate Icy," made the April cover of Cosmopolitan for her exclusive interview where she talks about her career, bullying, PTSD and more. 

Saweetie, aka Diamonté Quiava Valentin Harper, is the best counter to the stereotype of Asian women being meek and subservient. 

As the title to the Cosmo article suggests, "Saweetie Isn't Here to Impress You. She's Here to F***king Dominate!" the artist, who grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, is no shrinking violet.

The article introduces Saweetie to a readership that might not have heard of her despite being named "Favorite New Artist" for the Peoples' Choice Awards.

But as the interview in Cosmopolitan says: 

"Her songs have hundreds of millions of streams on Spotify. She earned a 2020 People’s Choice Awards nomination for Favorite New Artist; she’s had a guest spot on the Freeform show Grown-ish. And then there’s her proudest moment, making the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. It was a huge deal for Saweetie, who earned a business communications degree from the University of Southern California—with a 3.6 GPA, it should be noted—and who considers herself a multi-hyphenate entrepreneur. 'I screamed,' she says about when she found out she’d made the list. 'It just let me know that I’m on my way to where I wanted to be.' ”

The Forbes listing was important to her because of earlier interview. In the magazine, she talks about a 2018 interview where the host insinuated that because of her stunning appearance, she could get by with her basic freestyle (rapping).  Saweetie says she suffered from PTSD from that incident and other incidents she endured because of the premise that she was getting by on her looks.

Because of that accusation of "pretty privilege," she worked hard to improve her art, taking vocal lessons, focusing on the studio work and launching a nonprofit, Icy Baby Foundation, to help single mothers.  

If you're late to join the Saweetie bandwagon, welcome. 

Saweetie is interviewed by Kim Lee ("Bling Empire") over lunch at a Filipino restaurant.

Hailee Steinfeld on Cosmo's cover

HAILEE STEINFELD made the cover of Cosmpolitan magazine's December issue that's on the news stands now.

It's the first time the Filipina American made the cover of the fashion/advice magazine. I'd venture to guess it is the first time a Filipina American made the cover.

Hailee has grown up. It's a long way from her first cover in Westlake Magazine when - at only 12 years of age - she nominated for the Academy Award as Best Supporting Actress for her role in the motion picture True Grit. 

Cosmopolitan has two articles about the busy actress and recording artist. Here's tease:

A celebrity she’d like to recruit for the Bellas: “Chrissy Teigen.”Her dream duet partner is: “Drake.”
Her first kiss was: “The summer going into 6th grade. I set my expectations waaay too high.”
She feels sexiest when: “I’m onstage performing for my fans.”

Her latest movie, Pitch Perfect 3, about thte tirals and travails of all-female a capella singing group, will be released Dec. 22.

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